Bamboos are rubbish

[Mick C]

There, I've said it.

Hello all. I thought that as a newbie my first post should be thoughtful and inclusive.

Considered and considerate.

Engaging, I thought, perhaps challenging, but not provocative.

And then I thought...

[darran]

Hi Mike....

Welcome and your first post certainly has gotten attention!

Question is - do you really think Bamboos are rubbish? I like them, but they are not my favourite group of plants...others on the board I know LOVE them!

[MarkD]

Catchy indeed

Welcome to the forum MickC

[Palmer]

I have one could Sassa Sakhalin, who ever introduced it to this island want's shooting

[Mick C]

Hi guys

The truth is that I am not struck on bamboos.

There are a couple of areas of our garden which are in need of some tall growing plants to provide a bit of screening and wind protection.

Bamboos would seem the obvious choice, and would fit in well with the jungly look that we all try to achieve. I try to like them but I can't. Is it just me? Can you show me the error of my ways?

Thanks for the welcome, by the way, which I probably don't deserve

[grub]

i felt a bit like you in the beginning mick but having looked at lots of bamboos in the last year i'm gonna have to get me some really like the biggies, the golden and the blue ones, oh and the black ones, the variegated ones.......

[Mick C]

Hi Grub

My brother in law (just been down to stay with his family this weekend) grows them BUT

1) black ones all died last year, he swears they didn't flower or dry out.

2) the plain/variegated ones are trying to take over north London. He was not advised about rhizome barriers when he planted them and frankly the future is looking grim, not orange, and

3) I still don't like them anyway.

Just sayin' like.

[lucienc]

Welcome Mick.

I currently have 3 (or was it 4).

A random B&Q (whats the common B&Q one ? got it spring 2006).

My second was a P.vivax "aureocaulis", got it from a now shut down local nusery this time last year. Put it in the ground this spring, and it send out a lovely single 12-16 foot culm. I hope for more next spring. On its own its amazing. Lovely sound in the wind. Its buried in a big pot with its bottom sawn off to act as a rhizome barrier.

I picked up a random for £3.99 Trago. Can't remember what it is, but its now in a pot an tripled in size this summer.

My latest was half (sawn by bodster) of a variegated one from kentgardner. Its in a BIG pot and looks to be doing well. I saw one recently smaller than the half I got for over £50 in a local GC, Thanks KG

Lucien

[MarkD]

Hi Lucien, is your B&Q bamboo tall, green culmed and compressed nodes at the bottom? If so it's a Phyllostachys aurea. If not it's a Fargesia murielae (either Bimbo, Simba, Jumbo, Super Jumbo)as these are the bamboos B&Q normally sell. Occasionally they stock Phyllostachys nigra too.

I saw the variegated bamboo KG gave during the meet, it's X Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima'

Beauty is subjective Mick C Bamboo's not always the answer to screening as well. What about fast growing evergreen trees on that area of your garden, like Eucalyptus?

[bodster]

hows that bamboo doing lucien? my half seems fine

[lucienc]

I'll get a pic of it in the week and you can ID it for me

[lucienc]

hows that bamboo doing lucien? my half seems fine

Its doing very well

I've put it in a big pot (about double the pot our combined plant was in I'd guess). New culms still coming up, but none in the new compost yet. Guess that'll be next year , seeing we split it in mid Sept.

Its a lovely plant, still thinking where it can go in the garden, else its going to live in a big pot.

LC

PS Just remembered, my half became 2/5th's as my aunt had 20% of mine (think I got the math right there).

[bodster]

if you plant it in the garden, make sure you use a root barrier. From what I understand, that one can be invasive

[kentgardener]

My pleasure Lucien.

I would listen to Bodster about the invasive side - the mate I got it form had it in a large raised bed, full of quailty top soil from a local farm, and it filled the bed in about 3 years!

Oh, and welcome Mick C - the subject heading certaining caught my eye too!

regards

John

[Nigel]

I have 4 bamboos, and if I had my time again would not plant them. They look nice but they are messy and becoming bigger and more of a problem, the only good one is the pseudosasa I used for a hedge,thats very effective.